Legend
Su = summer
F = fall
W = winter
Sp = spring
YR = year-round

[July 2005] = Most recently checked by KB
[N/A] = Not yet checked by KB

  = Location is within +/- 10 miles of the indicated interstate highway. This is especially helpful for out-of-town birders who may be passing through Georgia while travelling and would like to get a quick birding fix. This is also helpful for birders planning a "Big Day," where staying close to a major interstate corridor is essential for covering the greatest diversity of habitats in 24 hours.

   = Location is a "Georgia Birding Hotspot." Though this designation is subjective, it generally means that the area should be given high priority when planning a birding trip to a region. Some Hotspots offer incredible, productive birding virtually year-round (Jekyll Island), while the best birding of the year may be more seasonal at others (Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park).

SBM = Shorebird Migration; this very generally refers to mid-March thru May in spring and mid-July thru mid-October in fall. Fall is the prime shorebird season. Baird's and Buff-breasted Sandpipers likely only in fall. Peak passage of specific species is quite variable.
PM = Passerine Migration; this very generally refers to April and May in spring and August thru mid-October in fall. This includes all songbirds - wood warblers, vireos, tanagers, thrushes, flycatchers, etc. Peak passage of specific species is quite variable. Spring migration is much more concentrated and birds are often in colorful breeding plumage. Fall migration is more spread out; fall wood warblers can be notoriously difficult to identify (or even impossible to determine sex), with numerous juveniles which do not exhibit the same obvious field marks as adults. 
IBA = Important Bird Area; the aim of the IBA Program is to identify and conserve key breeding and feeding sites for birds. An Important Bird Area is a place that provides essential habitat for one or more species of bird, whether in breeding season, winter, or during migration. These sites are considered to be exceptionally important for bird conservation; see Georgia's IBA Webpage

Dade County  
1) Cumberland Plateau Area (Dade and Walker Counties)
See Beaton's Birding Georgia.
a) Cloudland Canyon State Park           [Oct 2006] 
PM, late Sp-Su for breeding birds
[DeLorme: p. 12, grid C-2]
This is a great place for people of all ages to enjoy the outdoor wonders that Georgia's northwest corner has to offer, as well as some great birding during migration. There can be plenty of action in daylight and after dark (if you are camping in the park). A great diversity of passerines can be seen moving through in spring and fall, and nocturnal birds like owls, Whip-poor-wills and Chuck Will's Widow may be heard. In fall this is a great place to "Hawkwatch" in the daytime for species like Broad-winged Hawk, accipiters, or if you're lucky a Peregrine Falcon or Merlin. Also in fall, it can be a great spot to record "Thrush Counts" in the hours leading up to dawn, listening for the particular flight calls of species like Swainson's, Gray-Cheeked, Veery, and Wood Thrush.
       
 P HOTO 1         PHOTO 2      PHOTO 3
Photos 1 & 2 by KB; Photo 3 by Steve Barlow

b) Crockford-Pigeon Mountain WMA               [N/A]
PM, late Sp-Su for breeding birds
[DeLorme pg. 12, 3-E, F]
This is a very unique and interesting place geologically-speaking, and I have enjoyed exploring and camping here but have not been back since getting into birding. There is a rock climber's mecca on the top called "Rock Town" that has some very interesting sandstone outcroppings, cliffs, and caves that have been created over thousands of years of erosion. It was near this WMA that a re-introduction program was started to bring Golden Eagles back to the region; you'd be quite lucky to see one, but keep your eyes on the sky! You can view a pretty good MAP by Sherpa.

2) Cloverdale Rd-Mason Rd, Sulphur Springs Gap Rd       [N/A]
PM, late Sp-Su for breeding birds
[DeLorme pg. 12, E-1]
This is a nice area in the Ridge and Valley region for migrants and breeding birds. At night, it is a good place for both Chuck Will's Widow, Whip-poor-wills, and owls in April-May. From I-59 in Alabama, get off at Exit 239 and head southeast on County Rd 889 a very short distance until you deadend into Hwy 11. Turn left, and look carefully for Sulphur Springs Rd on your right (should be the first road on the right). Turn here and continue until you cross into Georgia and get to an intersection with Cloverdale Rd. (along the way, you may pass CR 735 and Dogwood Ln on your left - stay on Sulphur Springs Rd) Turn left onto Cloverdale Rd, and make a note of the first available right (Sulphur Springs Gap Rd.) Bird along Cloverdale Rd,  looking and listening for birds like Yellow-breasted Chat, Grasshopper Sparrow, Prairie Warbler, Palm Warbler, Loggerhead Shrike, Orchard Oriole, etc. Re-trace our path and turn left onto Sulphur Springs Gap Rd. this road will ascend Lookout Mountain along a series of switchbacks. Listen and look for birds, stopping along the way. Species to look for include Acadian Flycatcher, Red and White-eyed Vireo, wood warblers (Blue-winged, Nashville, Chestnut-sided, Black-throated Green, Black-and-white, Worm-eating, Ovenbird), Summer and Scarlet Tanagers, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, etc. The road will eventually deadend into Old SR 157. This can be used to access other areas like Cloudland Canyon State Park or Crockford-Pigeon Mountain WMA.